International Youth Day 2024

Statement by Hon. Kelvin Simon on International Youth Day 2024

The future of a nation is defined by its youngest population and in Antigua and Barbuda, our youth are some of our greatest resources. As we celebrate Youth Day 2024 under the theme ‘From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development,’ this is a significant opportunity to highlight the pivotal role that digital technology plays in shaping our future.

Recognizing the importance of our youth in the growth of our communities and our nation, we must therefore make this more than a theme, but a call to action. We must find effective ways to harness the energy, creativity, and innovation of our young people as they leverage digital technology.

With access to digital tools and platforms, our youth are not just passive consumers of technology but active creators, innovators, and digital entrepreneurs. They continue to amaze us with their ideas and creativity. Whether it is developing apps to address unmet needs in our tourism industry, or using social media to advocate for change. Our young people continue to harness the power of clicks to make significant progress in various sectors, including education, healthcare, tourism, agriculture, sports and governance.

While in the past, some saw our youth as merely an aspirational group with energy but lacking experience, and possessing passion but in need of focus, it is clear today, that such references have shifted.

But although young people have made significant progress, many challenges remain, particularly in accessing digital resources. The digital divide is critical as many young people still lack reliable internet access, digital literacy, and the necessary tools to participate fully in the digital economy. We must ensure that all young people, regardless of their background, can access and leverage digital tools to improve their lives and communities.

But addressing these challenges, will require the collaboration of the government, private sector partners, and civil society to invest in the upgrade of our digital infrastructure. We must provide continuous training and education, and create platforms for young entrepreneurs to thrive. We must also introduce inclusive policies that will empower all of our youth.

For the young people of Antigua and Barbuda their time for leadership has come. They continue to remind us through their digital contributions how effective communication and interconnectivity can advance national development. It is therefore our duty to ensure that our youth are fully equipped to take their place as the leaders of tomorrow by facilitating their innovation, creativity and growth. By empowering our youth through effective digital pathways, we can accelerate progress towards creating a better future for all Antiguans and Barbudans.

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY!

#investinouryouth#digitalentrepreneurship#PeopleFirst#SMSstrong#uppliftouryouth